The Karate Kid
Starring: Jaden Smith, Jackie Chan and Taraji P. Henson; directed by Harald Zwart
Rating: Four stars out of five
By Mike Sage - The Movie Sage
This remake of the 80s classic defies all expectations to score big. It's pure formula in such a spectacular way it's so natural to cheer this one on the whole way through.
Even though it clocks in at nearly two and a half hours, the film is relentlessly entertaining. It rarely resorts to unnecessary exposition or limp subplots weaving the kung fu and love stories perfectly and even sparing us a dull intro and outtro.
Dre Parker and his struggling single mom move to Beijing for a new life, where the black youth is immediately the outcast in the Chinese population. Although the beautiful Mei Ying appreciates his cocksure attempts to fit in on the playground with his hip hop dance moves, a gang of bullies led by the terrifying Cheng isn't so accepting.
When Dre becomes the victim of increasingly violent attacks, his building's maintenance man and secret kung fu maestro Mr. Han (Chan) is forced to step in and become our hero's young mentor. Sure you know the gist of the story will involve some training montages and Dre learning to confront his fears by facing the bullies in a climactic tournament battle royale. However, vibrant characterization make this familiar journey absolutely enthralling, as Dre, Mr. Han and even Mei Ying are all well-rounded with believable arcs. Creative action set-pieces, what even an aging Mr. Chan knows best, will also ensure the butts stay on the edge of seats.
Take the story's approach to act two training. Before Dre gets to throw his first punch or attempt to high-kick a bell or run across the Great Wall of China, Mr. Han first tests the boys resolve through the repeated hanging up of his coat. The symbolic pay-off of this deliberately frustrating sequence is absolutely stunning, and will demonstrates how really good writers can add riveting suspense to the seemingly mundane.
Many critical pens will be quick to denounce the work of Jaden Smith as the Detroit whippersnapper for riding Mr. and Mrs. Smith's coattails into Hollywood.
However, in a movie where we must rally behind the hero's journey, this boy earns our support. From his beginnings as a frustrated, close-minded and boastful street-kid-out-of-water and his ability to show real change under the tutelage of Chan, this kid keeps our attention.
It helps that Jackie Chan probably turned in the best performance of his English language career - Mr. Han is oozing with emotional depth - but Smith deserves his props where they're due.
The Karate Kid is a guaranteed good time at the cinemas. Pundits may question the motivation of the villains (though I loved to hate every one of these thugs using kung-fu for No-Mercy Evil) as well as the age of the youngsters (pre-puberty romance and aggression might seem a bit odd) but the storytelling and performances are top-notch.
No wonder this one is kicking butt at the box office.
